Die cast emblems

[dbeardslee]

A couple weeks ago I lost a side cover emblem while riding, and since I'm getting ready to repaint, I decided to do the full monty and spring for die cast emblems. They came in today, and they are absolutely beautiful. Since they're made out of metal I have some better options for mounting, and I might just thread the studs and bolt them on. Or I might cross drill the studs and use cotter pins and double sided tape. For what these things cost I'm going to make darn sure they don't come off!

The only paint on them is the black. The gold is the color of the metal showing through.

[madmax-im]

Nice....

[madmax-im]

BTW if you thread them...use some blue loctite...

[dbeardslee]

The company that sells them recommends double sided tape or silicon adhesive with 'E' clips. They're recessed on the back so there's room for some thick double sided tape without pushing them out from the side cover. It'll be a little while before I put them on, so I've got some time to cogitate on it.

[natemoen]

I think lock washers would be better than lock tight. I bet the metal wouldn't hold up to unscrewing with the lock tight.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Those are sweeeeetttt!

[DAVINCI]

Ben,

Swamp Thing has those metal emblems. A guy in Austrailia was making them at the time (2006?) and they were available from Old Bike Barn

[dbeardslee]

Ben,

Swamp Thing has those metal emblems. A guy in Austrailia was making them at the time (2006?) and they were available from Old Bike Barn

The ones I got were shipped from Australia, and I ordered them from KZ900.com. Probably made by the same outfit as yours. I wish they had the tank badges for a standard, but I'm only seeing them for specials. If they had 'em for standards I'd be on them like a monkey on a cupcake.

[DAVINCI]

Back then Old Bike Barn had the standard emblems and they are very nice, give them a look.

BTW, because they are metal, they shrink when they cool out of the mold. Therefore, the screw holes (and posts, i think) don't exactly line up. I had to drill and tap new holes in the tank flange (VERY CAREFULLY)

[dbeardslee]

Back then Old Bike Barn had the standard emblems and they are very nice, give them a look.

BTW, because they are metal, they shrink when they cool out of the mold. Therefore, the screw holes (and posts, i think) don't exactly line up. I had to drill and tap new holes in the tank flange (VERY CAREFULLY)

I checked one yesterday on the side panel that lost it's emblem, and the holes lined up perfectly. KZ900.com said the posts were thicker than on the original plastic emblems, but they fit through the holes perfectly.

I have noticed a couple outfits selling tank emblems they say will fit both standards and specials, but I don't know how that could be true. They're a few millimeters different.

I've got a few old tank badges, and I know a few tricks for restoring them. Might give that a try for the tank badges. Here's a link to a thread I posted about seven years ago on emblem refinishing and repair. The second page even shows putting the "Y" back on a broken tank emblem. Quick, cheap, easy badge refinishing

[madmax-im]

Ben,

Swamp Thing has those metal emblems. A guy in Austrailia was making them at the time (2006?) and they were available from Old Bike Barn

But of course...nuthin but the best for Swamp Girl... Did you see the LED lights I used to replace those bullet lights you had installed as running brake lights??? Bitchin'

[ViperRon]

I got emblems also but from Diablo they also came from Australia and I do suggest that you put dual sided tape on. If you do not these are much heavier than the plastic and if you did not spend a good amount of time getting them to curve to fit the covers they will vibrate. They will tend to wear the paint and wear the holes they go threw and may come off. The other issue is if you form them well and use the tape they will not collect dust underneath and then when you wash you not are wiping residue 3 and 4 times draining from them.

Do it right and do it once.

[dbeardslee]

I got emblems also but from Diablo they also came from Australia and I do suggest that you put dual sided tape on. If you do not these are much heavier than the plastic and if you did not spend a good amount of time getting them to curve to fit the covers they will vibrate. They will tend to wear the paint and wear the holes they go threw and may come off. The other issue is if you form them well and use the tape they will not collect dust underneath and then when you wash you not are wiping residue 3 and 4 times draining from them.

Do it right and do it once.

These have some curve to them. How did you curve yours?

[XJOK2PLAY]

A few years back, I needed some side emblems for my Maxim, and someone told me about the guy in Australia.

I had one good emblem, but needed 2.

He had some for Specials, and some 750's... but none for a Maxim 1100.

I worked a deal with him, and sent him my one good emblem.
He made copies from it, and sent me a pair at a discounted price, and returned my one good one I had sent.

If he's still in business, and doesn't have the emblem you need, he can make them if someone will send him a good one to copy.

Mine came back top notch quality.

I posted a thread about it, with pics. Probably about 4 years ago.
Might come up with his details by doing a search.

[dbeardslee]

I posted a thread about it, with pics. Probably about 4 years ago. Might come up with his details by doing a search.

Fount it. I swear, if you want to find old threads on XS11 you're best bet is Google. Maxim Badges


I'll have to give him a jingle regarding standard tank badges. According to the currency converter it looks like badges can be had direct from the "guy" for half what the middle man gets. $54.50 australian = $38.11 american. Thanks for the heads up.